Apparatus for measuring propeller



D. J. DAVIS APPARATUS FOR MEASURING PROPELLER BLADES e sheets-sheet;

Filed May 5, 1944 NN wNmN QQN.

e m w nw Nm. Wm mm |`WN 1....z Mw mw l Mk N AM Jan. 3l, 1950 D. J. DAVIS APPARATUS FOR MEASURING PROPELLER BLADES LATI@ .imi w A 5. :WMI Nw ../,wv// mw ,f m M, Aww WNW. @mmf A, ma m." Nw Qu Jan. 31, 1950 D. J. DAVIS APPARATUS FOR MEASURING PROPELLER BLADES 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 5, 1944 Jan. 3l, 1950 D. J. DAvls 2,495,891

APPARATUS FOR MEASURING PROPELLER BLADES Filed May 5, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 31, 1950 D. J. DAvls APPARATUS FOR MEAsuRING PROPELLER BLADES 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 5, 1944 mwN Jan. 3l, 1950 D. J. DAvls 2,495,891

APPARATUS FOR MEASURING PROPELLER BLADES Patented Jan. 31, 1950 APPARATUS FOR MEASURING PROPELLER BLADES Dwillard J. Davis, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Avco Manufacturing Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application May 5, 1944, Serial No. 534,200

Claims.

The invention relates to apparatus for measuring propeller blades to determine whether their contour and dimensions are correct.

One object of the invention is to provide improved apparatus for measuring propeller blades which reduces the time and the number of operators required for making the measurements to eiect a saving in cost of fabrication.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved apparatus whereby the measurements for blade width and blade thickness can be made from templets without requiring calculations of the inaccuracies in the blade.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved apparatus for measuring length, width, thickness, edge alignment, face alignment, blade angles and templet fit of the faces of propeller blades.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved measuring apparatus which includes templets for the width measurements and thickness measurements on the supporting table so that the measurements for the blade width and blade thickness for each blade can be taken during a single setting of the blade in a rotatable supporting head.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and illustrating the superposed templets' r for width and thickness measurements.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the structure for rotatably supporting the blade from its shank over the templets on the stationary table.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the adaptor which the blade shank is secured and which is removably supported in the chuck carried by the supporting head.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a plan of the supporting head and some of the parts carried thereby.

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 1, parts being shown in elevation.

Fig. 9 is a section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a section taken on line Illl0 of Fig. 8.

Fig. l1 is a perspective of the carriage which is movable over the table longitudinally of the blade and on which the measuring devices are mounted.

Fig. 12 is a perspective of one of the shoes for engaging the templets on the xed table and the carrying bracket for the shoe.

Fig. 13 is a vertical section through one corner of the carriage illustrating the rollers on said carriage.

Fig. 14 is a section taken on line lll-I4 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a section taken on line I 5-I5 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 16 is a perspective of one of the templets for checking the cross-sectional contour of one of the blade faces.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary sectional View of one of the columns and the device used in setting one of the indicators in correlation with a knife-bar.

Fig. 18 is a view taken on the line I8-I8 of Fig. 17.

The apparatus exemplifying the invention comprises, generally, a xed table upon which the templets for measuring the blade width and thickness are secured; a supporting head mounted on one end of the table for a rotatable chuck in which the shank of the blade is secured for supporting the working portion of the blade over the templets on the fixed table; a carriage which is mounted for movement longitudinally of the table into a series of longitudinal positions along the blade; bars with knife edges for engaging the blade at opposite sides or edges which are movable over the table with the carriage and movable transversely of the table on the carriage; means for positioning the knife-bars from the templets on the table; and means for measuring the movements of the bars relatively to the templets when they are engaged with the blade and positioned by the templets.

The fixed table 20 on which the blade-supporting structure, the templet and the longitudinally movable carriage are mounted, is preferably formed of a rectangular cast block with a ilat top face 23 and straight sides. Table 20 is supported at a convenient elevation on a supporting frame 2| which is formed of structural members,

21 in alignment with the scribe lines for spotting the longitudinally movable carriage at corresponding stations.

A templet 29 has a longitudinally extending edge 36 extending along one of its sides corresponding in contour to the leading edge 3| of the propeller blade a to beA measured, and a longitudinal edge 32 along its opposite side corresponding to the trailing edge 33 of the blade a. The templet 29 is removably secured by screws 35 on the top of the table 26. A templet 31 is superimposed on the templet 29 and is removably secured to the table by screws 38. The temnlet 31 has a longitudinal edge 39 along one of its sides which conforms to the longitudinal contour of the center of the thrust face 40 of the blade a and along its opposite side a longitudinally extending edge 4| which conforms to the longitudinal contour of the center of the suction face 42 of the blade a. Templets 29 and 31 are removably secured to the fixed table 26 so that they can be interchanged with templets for blades of different lengths and shapes. The templets are mounted one on top of the other on the fixed table 28 so they may be alternately used for thickness and width measurements of the blade by the measuring devices hereinafter set forth, while the blade is rotated to different angular positions.

The means for supporting the blade over the fixed table comprises a head 45; a chuck 46 provided with a trunnion or shaft 41 which is journaled in roller bearings 48 and 49 which are mounted in the head 45 so that the chuck 46 and the blade carried thereby may be rotated on the longitudinal axis of the blade to bring the blade faces into horizontal or vertical position or any intermediate angular position. The chuck 46 comprises a lower semi-cylindrical member D which is integrally formed with the shaft 41 and a semi-cylindrical section 5| which is pivoted at 52 to the section 5D. These sections are adapted to receive and to lt around a cylindrical adaptor 54. The sections 50 and 5| are adapted to be clamped together to grip the adaptor by a screw 56 which is pivoted at 51 to the section 50. Section 5| of the chuck is provided with a handle 58. The sections 56, 5| of the chuck are provided with an annular groove L for receiving an annular rib 59 on the adaptor for holding it against axial movement in the chuck, and are also provided with a series of radial set screws 60 (Fig. 6) for locking the adaptor 54 in the chuck 46. The adaptor 54 is adapted to receive the shank a of the blade a" to be measured and a reduced shank portion a2 which ts in the bore at the inner end of the adaptor, The outer portion of the shank of the blade is adjustably secured by four radial screws 6| so that the blade may be accurately centered in the chuck coaxially with the shaft 41. Four indicators 64 are mounted on the outer end of the adaptor 54 and provided with stems 65 for engaging the periphery of the shank of the blade for indicating any off-center relation of the blade and for aiding the operator while adjusting the screws 6| to secure the blade in its accurately coaxial position with the shaft 41. The chuck is provided with a shoulder 61 which abuts against one end of the bearing 48. A collar 68, which is screw-threaded to the outer end of the shaft 41, has abutting engagement with the inner race member of the bearing 49 for securing shaft 41 and chuck 46 against axial movement in the head 45. A screw-collar 69 is adapted to lock the collar 68 in its adjusted position.

Shaft 41, chuck 46, the adaptor 54 and the blade a, when supported therein, are rotatable in the head 45 to position the working faces of the blade generally horizontally for blade width measurements, vertically for thickness measurements, or any intermediate angle. The mechanism for this purpose comprises a worm gear 16 which is keyed to shaft 41; a worm wheel 1| fixed on a cross shaft 12 which is provided with a hand wheel 13 for rotating the worm. Worm 1|, its shaft 12 and hand wheel 13 are carried in a member 15 which fits in a slot in head 45 and is pivotally connected by a pin 14 to the head 45 to permit the worm 1| to be disengaged from gear 'l0 for rotation of the shaft 41 and gear 16 independently of the worm 1| and hand wheel 13. Screws 14' are adapted to secure the pivoted worm carrying member 15 in position to maintain engagement of worm 1| and gear 16. When the worm 1| has been disengaged from gear 10 and hand wheel 16 is locked to shaft 41 by hand wheel 80, shaft 41, chuck 46, adaptor 54 and the blade carried thereby can be quickly rotated to bring the blade into any angular position around its longitudinal axis. A hand wheel 16 is provided with a hub 11 which fits into a socket 18 in the outer end of shaft 41 and is adapted to be secured into locked engagement with said shaft by a hand wheel on a screw 19 which is fixedly threaded into said shaft. Wheel 16 has a peripheral face 82 which is calibrated to cooperate with a calibrated plate 83 fixed to the head 45 for indicating the rotational setting of the chuck member 48 and the blade carried thereby. When the hand wheel 86 has been loosened. the wheel 16 can be rotated relatively to the shaft 41 so the wheel 16 may be set into normal indicating relation with the calibrations on plate 83 in accordance with the angular position of the blade a in the chuck 46. Sealing rings 84 and 85 are provided at the inner and outer ends of the head 45.

Head 45 is slidably supported in a longitudinally extending channel 88 which is formed in a base or bracket 81 and is vertically confined in said channel by bars 89 and 96 (Fig. 5) which overlap ribs on the sides of the head. Head 45 can be adjusted in bracket 81 longitudinally of the fixed table 20 by a screw 92 to vary the relative longitudinal position of the blade carried by the chuck in the head relatively to the templets 29 and 31 on the table 20 to bring the longitudinal stations of blades of varying length into longitudinal alignment with the scribe lines 26 and the stations on the table 20. A calibrated bar 98 is fixed to bar 90 on the base 81 and an index 91 is fixed to the head 45 for measuring the longitudinal movement of the head from the point in which the head should be positioned for a blade of the correct length. This provides means for measuring variations in the length of the blade and also means for adjusting the blade and its supporting structure longitudinally of the table to bring the blade into correct longitudinal relation with the templets 29 and 31 on the fixed table 2U. The bracket 81 is secured and positioned by bolts 94 (Fig. 3) and a dowel pin 95 on the top of the fixed table 20 and may be spotted into accurately centered transverse relation on the table 20 by screws 95 which are threaded to plates 96 which are secured to the sides of the table 20.

A carriage, generally designated 99, is longitudinally movable over the xed table 20 for supporting a pair of measuring devices for bladewidth and blade-thickness and setting the devices vat different, or at any, longitudinal stations on the blade and the templets 29 and 31. Carriage 99 comprises a frame |00 which extends across the table 29 over the templets 29 and 31, and is vertically supported by rollers |92 which are mounted in brackets |03 which are secured in recesses in the underside of the corner portions of the frame |00. The frame is guided later-ally by rollers |05 which are mounted in recesses in end-bars |01 which are secured by screws |08 to the frame |00.

The bars |01 may be adjusted to accurately position the rollers |06 for engagement with the side faces of the table 20 by screws |08 (Fig. 13). The carriage frame is provided with a screw H0 which extends through and is threaded to -one of the bars |01 and is adapted to enter the recesses 21 in one side of the xed table 20 to lock the carriage frame at any of the longitudinal sta,- tions indicated by the scribe lines 26. A pair of parallel guide rods I are supported in a plate H2 secured to one end of the frame |00, and in a central bridge plate I I3 which is also secured to frame |00. A pair of guide rods H5 are mounted in an end-plate H9 which is secured to the side of frame |00 and in the bridge plate H3. A supporting member or block H8 for the measuring device for the blade-width along the trailing edge and the blade-thickness along the thrust face of the blade is mounted on rods IH and slidable thereon between plates H2 and H3. A supporting member or block |20 for the measuring de- -vice for the blade-width along the leading edge and the blade-thickness along the suction face of the blade is mounted on rods |5 and slidable thereon between plates I I9 and H1. These blocks I I8 and |20 exemplify means for slidably supporta,

ing the measuring devices transversely of the fixed" table 20 and to and from the axis of the blade from which the measurements are to be taken.

The measuring device carried by the block H8 comprises a vertical bar |22 which is provided with a vertically extending knife-edge for engaging the blade and a stem |23 which is horizontally slidable transversely of the xed table 20 in a column 24 which is movable with and xedly supported in block H8. The column |24 is seated on the block H8 and provided with a downwardly extending stern |26 which extends vertically through said block centrally between the rods II and is secured against rotation and vertical movement in said block by a screw |21 and a key which extends into a vertical groove |28 in said stem. A follower or shoe |32 is carried on the lower end of the stem of column |24 by a bracket |33 for engaging the templets on the table and positioning said column and the bar |22 conformably to the edges 30 and 39 ofthe templets 29 and 31, respectively. Thestem |23 of bar |22 is pressed by a spring |25 toward the transverse center of the table and is adapted to operate a gauge |30 which is xedly supported on the column |24 by a clamp-bracket |28 and of the knife-bar |22 inwardly or outwardly from the position in which it is vertically aligned with the inner edge of the shoe |32 and edge 32 of templet 29 when the knife-bar is engaged with the blade and shifted by the blade while the shoe is engaged with said templet. The gauge |30 is correlated with the knife-edge of bar |22 to register zero when said knife-edge is in engagement with the blade and is in exact vertical alignment with the inner edge of the shoe |32 and the edge of the templet when it is engaged by the shoe. When this occurs, the blade at the point engaged byr tlfieknife-bar-*I22 will be correctly dimensioned |45 toward the axis of the blade.

conformably to the engaged templet. When the knife-bar is moved inwardly by its spring |25 as a result of a minus dimension of the blade, or forced outwardly as the result of a plus dimension on'the'blade; the indicator of the gauge will register the minus or plus dimension and its magnitude. This renders unnecessary any calculation by the operator in these measurements of the blade. The shoe |32'is vertically adjustable into positionv to engage either ,the edge 39 of the templet 29, which conforms to the contour of the trailing edge of the blade, or the edge 4| of the templet 31 which conforms to the contour of the pressure face of the blade. The bracket |33 to which the shoe |32 is secured is slidably mounted for this purpose on the lower end of the stem |23 of the column |24. Bracket |33 is vertically slidable on the stem |26 to position the shoe |32 in the horizontal plane of the templet 29 when the blade is rotatively positioned as illustrated in Fig.

` 8, or in the horizontal plane of the superimposed templet 31 when the blade is rotated substantiallv fromsaid position, so that the column |24 and knife-bar |22 may be positioned transversely ofthe table 20by the edge 30 of templet 29 or the w `'edge 39 of templet 31. Bracket |33 is movable between its 'raised and lowered positions by a lever |36 which is fulcrumed on block H9 and a rod |31'r privoted to said lever and slidably mounted in the block H8. A spring-pressed detent |38 in the block H8kengages V-shaped notches |39 in rod |31 to vertically position the bracket |31 for engagement of the shoe 32 with templet 29 or `with templet 31. A screw |34 extends into groove '|28 in stem |26 to prevent rotation of bracket |33, and a pin I 35 limits the vertical movement of said bracket.

A column |40 for supporting the device for measuring the width of the blade at its leading edge andthe thickness of the blade at its suction face, is provided with a stem |4| which is secured inthe blockv |20 in the same manner as the column |24 is secured in the block H8. A shoe or follower |42 is secured to the inner side of a bracket |43 which is slidably mounted on the stem |4| of column |40. The bracket |43 is vertically shiftable by a lever |35 and rod |31 ofthe same construction used for tbe block H8 for engagement with the edge 39 of the templet 29 or the edge 39 of the templet 31. A bar |45 'provided with a knife edge for engaging the leading edge of the blade and for measuring its thickness along thesuction face, is secured by screws to a pair of parallel and vertically aligned stems '|46 which are mounted in column |40 to slide transversely of the xed table 20. Stems |46 are fixedly connected by a bar |41 and springs |49 are applied to the stems to press the knife-bar A gauge |49 is clamped in a bracket-|50 which is secured to the column `l|40 and is provided with a stem |5| 7 which is responsive to the movement of the knifebar in the column |40.

The gauge |49 is correlated with the knife-edge of bar |45 to register zero when said knife-edge is in engagement with the blade and is in exact vertical alignment with the inner edge of the shoe |42 while the latter is engaged with the edge 32 of the templet 29 which conforms to the leading edge of the blade or with the edge 39 of templet 31 which conforms to the longitudinal contour of the pressure face of the blade. When this occurs, the blade at the point engaged by knife-bar |45 will be correctly dimensioned conformably to the engaged templet. When said knife-bar is moved inwardly by its spring |48 as a result of a minus dimension of theblade, or forced outwardly as the result of a plus dimension of the blade, the indicator of the gauge will register the minus or plus dimension and its magnitude. This renders unnecessary any calculation by the operator in measuring the blade.

Each of the supporting blocks ||8 and |20 is provided with a calibrated index |56 which moves over a calibrated or scale bar |51 for convenience in reading the spacing of the knife-bars |22, |45 from the longitudinal axis of the blade.

The apparatus is also adapted to be used to facilitate the checking of the cross-sectional contour of the blade faces by means of a series of templets |53 which are shaped respectively to conform to the different cross-sectional contours of the blade faces at the stations along the length of the blade in which the carriage 99 is set for measuring the blade from templets 29- and 31. For holding the templets |53 at said stations and moving them to engage the blade, each of the columns |24 and |40 is provided with a vertical groove |54 at one side of and contiguous to the knife-bars |22, |45, respectively. These templets |53 are exemplified in Fig. 16 and each consists of plates which removably fit the grooves |54 and are adapted to be held therein by resilient gripping members |55. While measuring the width of the blade at the several stations, the templets |53 are removed from the grooves |54. The grooves |54 are located at the side faces of the knife-edges so that the templets 53 will engage the blade substantially at the line of engagement of the knife-bars with the blade. The templets |53 are used while the blade is rotatively positioned at right angles to that shown in Fig. 8 and may be used while the carriage 99 is set for making the thickness-measurements of the blade or may be removed from the columns if desired.

The operation of the apparatus will be as follows: the shank a' of the blade a to be measured and checked is inserted into the adaptor 54 as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, and the adaptor is placed into and clamped in the chuck 46 and the chuck is then locked to secure the adaptor against axial movement and rotation in the chuck. The screws 6| can be adjusted to accurately center the shank of the blade in the chuck, the gauges 64 serving to aid the operator in spotting and securing the blade in its central position. The wheel 16 can be loosened by screw 19 and hand wheel 80 to permit rotation of the blade and the chuck in the head 45 to the rotative position of the blade for making the blade width measurements and setting the Wheel 16 so that the calibrations on surfaces 82 and plate 83 will register zero and rotation of the blade from said position will be correctly indicated byl said calibrations. When so set. the Wheel 16 will be locked by hand wheel 30 and screw 19 for rotation with the chuck and blade. If the longitudinal stations on the blade to be measured and checked are not in vertical alignment with the stations or scribe lines 26 on the table 20, screw 92 (Fig. 3) can be adjusted to bring them into accurate vertical alignment. The extent of adjustment necessary for this purpose will be indicated by the calibrations on the bar and the index 91 on the head 45. Variations in the length of the blade can be measured by this adjustment.

Assuming the blade a has been angularly rotated to the position illustrated in Fig. 8, the longitudinally movable carriage will be successively set at the stations indicated by the scribe lines 26 and locked in such positions by the screw I|0 (Fig. 11). At each longitudinal station, the posts |24 and |40, which are slidable transversely of the table rods I0, will be shifted toward the blade to cause the shoes |32 and |42 to engage the edges 32 and 30 of the templet 29, respectively. If, while the shoes are so engaged, the leading and trailing edges of the shoe conform to said edges of the templet 29, the knife-bars |22 and |45 will be positioned in vertical alignment with said edges of said templet, respectively, and the indications on gauges |30 and |49 will be zero. If the knife-bars |22, |24 are moved inwardly of the edges 32 and 30, respectively, by the springs acting thereon as a result of a deficiency in the width of the blade, the gauges |30 and |49 will be operated to indicate the deficiency in width and its magnitude at each edge of the blade and without calculation on the part of the operator. If there is an excess of width at either of the edges of the blades, the knife-bars engaging it will be forced outwardly and the gauges will be operated to indicate the excess width and its magnitude to the operator without calculation. When the width of the blade across the leading and trailing edges has been thus measured at all of the desired longitudinal stations of the blade, the chuck 46 will be rotated 90 either by means of hand Wheel 13, worm 1| and gear 'I0 or directly by hand wheel 16 when the worm 1| is disengaged from gear 10 to set the blade for measurement of its thickness. The operator will then shift levers |36 to raise brackets |33 and |43 and the shoes 32 and |42 carried thereby, above the templet 29 and into the horizontal plane of the templet 31, at each longitudinal station, the blade should correspond in thickness with the edges 39 and 4| of the templet 31. The posts 24 and |40 are then shifted at each station into engagement with the edges of the templet 31, respectively, and the knife-bars |22 and I 45 when engaged with the blade, will operate the gauges |30 and |49, respectively, to indicate zero if the blade thickness is correct in conformity with the templet 31 or to indicate plus or minus thickness relatively to the center of the blade of the respective blade faces without calculations.

As the blade thickness has been measured at each station, the blade will be left in the same rotative position and templets |53, shaped to conform to the cross-sectional shape of the opposite blade faces at the corresponding stations, will be inserted in the grooves |54 in the columns |24 and |40, respectively, and held therein by the resilient gripping devices |55. These columns with the templets |53 therein are then moved together to bring said templets against the blade faces so that deviations in the blade faces from the templets will be visible.

Y A device is provided for assisting the operator in correlating each of the knife-bars with the shoes on the columns and setting the indicators for the measurements at a, zero indication when the bars are aligned with the templet-engaging shoes. These devices are similar in construction. Figs. 17 and 18 illustrate one of these devices aD- plied to the column |24 and knife-bar 122 which comprises an angular calibrating bracket |60 which is substantially rectangular in cross-section and provided with a ange or member 16| which ts against the back side of column |24 and a flange or member 162 Which is provided with an accurately ground face 163 which is adapted to be engaged by and position the knife bar relatively to said column. Dowel pins 164, flxedly carried by member 161, are adapted to fit snugly within holes |65 in the column |24 and accurately space the face |63 in exact vertical alignment with the face of the shoe |32 which engages the edge 30 of templet 29 or edge 39 of templet 31. When the Calibrating bracket |60 is held on the column and the edge of the knifebar |22 is engaged with face |63, said edge will be in exact alignment with the templet-engaging edge of shoe |32 and it is desired that the indicator reading should be zero. With the calibrating bracket |60 in place and holding the knifebar in vertical alignment with the templet-engaging shoe 132, the indicator can be easily adjusted in clamp bracket |28 to register zero so that direct readings can be taken of the variations of the knife-bar relatively to shoe |33 in measuring the blades. In this manner the Calibrating bracket |60 facilitates the accurate setting of the indicator with respect to the minus and plus measurements. After the indicators have seen set, the Calibrating brackets |60 are removed from the columns.

The invention provides apparatus for expeditiously measuring or checking the blade length, the blade width, the blade thickness, the edge alignment, the face alignment, blade angle, and

the templet fit of the cross-sectional contour of the blade faces. The gauges 130 and |49 provide a direct reading of the measurements for the blade width and blade thickness at different stations which require no calculations for recording. The apparatus expedites and simplifies the measuring and checking of the blades and ef fects a saving in time and labor and the cost of fabrication of the blades.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for measuring propeller blades comprising, a table, means for supporting a blade from its shank to extend longitudinally over the table, a. templet extending longitudinally of and stationarily secured on the table, a carriage movable over the table to different longitudinal blade stations, oppositely disposed elements movable by contact with the blade, means for positioning the elements from the templet, and means for measuring the movement of the elements when they are positioned by the templet and moved by the blade.

2. Apparatus for measuring propeller blades comprising, a table, means for supporting a blade from its shank to extend longitudinally over the table, a. templet extending longitudinally of and stationarily secured on the table, a carriage movable over the table to different longitudinal blade stations, oppositely disposed elements movable by contact with opposite portions of the blade, respectively, means for positioning the elements from the templet, and means for measuring the movement of the elements when they are positioned by the templet and moved by engagement with the blade.

3. Apparatus for measuring propeller blades comprising, a table, means for rotatably supporting a blade from its shank to extend longitudinally over the table, a pair of templets extending` longitudinally of and stationarily secured over one another on the table, one conforming to the blade Width and the other to the blad thickness, a carriage movable over the table to different longitudinal blade stations, oppositely disposed elements movable by contact with opposite portions of the blade, respectively, means for positioning the elements from either of the templets, and means for measuring the movement of the elements when they are positioned by the templets and moved by engagement With the blade.

4. Apparatus for measuring propeller blades comprising, a table, means for supporting a blade from its shank to extend longitudinally over the table, a templet stationarily secured on the table, a carriage movable over the table to different longitudinal blade stations, elements for engaging opposite sides of the blade, respectively, supports for said elements mounted on the carriage to move transversely of and to and from the blade, said elements being mounted in the supports for movement Aby engagement with the blade, means on the supports for positioning them transversely of the table from the templet, and means for measuring the movement of the elements by the blade While the supports are positioned yby the templet.

5. Apparatus for measuring propeller blades comprising, a table, means for supporting a blade from its shank to extend longitudinally over the table, a templet stationarily secured on the table, a carriage movable over the table to different longitudinal blade stations, elements for engaging opposite sides of the blade, respectively, supports for said elements mounted on the carriage, for rectilinear sliding movement transversely of and to and from the blade, said elements being mounted in the supports for sliding movement by the blade, means on the supports for engaging the templet, and positioning the supports transversely of the table from the templet, and means for measuring the movement of the elements in the supports by the blade While the engaging means are engaged with and positioned by the templet.

6. Apparatus for measuring propeller blades comprising, a' table, means for supporting a blade from its shank to extend longitudinally over the table, a templet stationarily secured on the table, a carriage movable over the table to different longitudinal blade stations, elements for engaging opposite sides of the blade, respectively, supports for said elements mounted on the carriage to move transversely of and to and from the blade, said elements being mounted in the supports for movement by the blade, spring means for pressing said elements toward the blade, means on the supports for engaging the templet and positioning the supports transversely of the table by the templet, and means for measuring the movement of the elements in the supports by 11 the blade while the engaging means are positioned by the templet.

7. Apparatus for measuring propeller blades comprising, a table, means for supporting a blade from its shank to extend longitudinally over the table, a templet stationarily secured on the table, a carriage movable over the table to diierent longitudinal blade stations, bars with knife edges for engaging opposite sides of the blade, respectively, supports for said bars mounted on the carriage to move transversely of and to and from the blade, said bars being slidably mounted in the supports for movement by the blade, means on the supports for engaging the templet and positioning the supports transversely of the table by the templet, and means for measuring the movement of the bars in the supports by the blade While the engaging means are positioned by the templet.

8. Apparatus for measuring propeller blades comprising, a table, means for rotatably supporting a blade from its shank to extend longitudinally over the table, a pair of templets stationarily secured on the table', one above the other, a carriage movable over the table to different longitudinal blade stations, elements for engaging the opposite sides of the blade, respectively, supports for said elements mounted on the carriage to move transversely of and to and from the blade, said elements being mounted in the supports for limited movement transversely of the blade, means on the support for engaging the templets and positioning the supports transversely of the table by the templets, means for setting the engaging means for coacting with either of the templets, and means for measuring the movement of the elements in the supports by the blade when the engaging means are positioned by the templets.

9. Apparatus for measuring propeller blades comprising, a table, means for rotatably supporting a blade from its shank to extend longitudinally over the table, a pair of templets stationarily secured on the table, one above the other, one conforming to the leading and trailing edges of the blade and the other conforming to the blade thickness, a carriage movable over the table to different longitudinal blade stations, elements for engaging the opposite sides of the blade, respectively, supports for said elements mounted on the carriage to move transversely of and to and from the blade, said elements being mounted in the supports for limited movement transversely of the blade, means on the supports for engaging the templets and positioning the supports transversely of the table, means for setting the engaging means for coacting with either of the templets, and means for measuring the movement of the elements in the supports by the blade while the supports are positioned by the templets.

10. Apparatus for measuring propeller blades comprising, a table, means for rotatably supporting a blade from its shank to extend longitudinally over the table, a pair of templets stationarily secured on the table, one above the other, a carriage movable over the table to different longitudinal blade stations, elements for engaging the opposite sides of the blade, respectively, supports for said elements mounted on the carriage to move transversely of and to and from the blade, said elements being mounted in the supports for limited movement transversely of the blade, means on the supports for engaging the templets and positioning the supports transversely of the table, means, including levers mounted on the supports, for setting the engaging means for coacting with either of the templets, and means for measuring the movement of the elements in the supports by the blade While the supports are positioned by the templets.

l1. Apparatus for measuring propeller blades comprising, a table, means for rotatably supporting a blade from its shank to extend longitudinally over the table, a pair of templets stationarily secured on the table, one above the other, a carriage movable over the table to dii-ferent longitudinal blade stations, elements for engaging the opposite sides of the blade, respectively, supports for said elements mounted on the carriage to move transversely of and to and from the blade, said elements being mounted in the supports for 'limited movement transversely of the blade, means on the supports for engaging the templets and positioning the supports transversely of the blade, means slidably carried by the supports for setting the engaging means for coacting with either of the templets, and means for measuring the movement of the elements in the supports by the blade While the supports are positioned by the templets.

12. Apparatus for measuring propeller blades comprising, a table, means for supporting a blade from its shank to extend longitudinally over the table, a templet stationarily secured on the table, a carriage movable over the table to different longitudinal blade stations, supports mounted on the carriage for rectilinear sliding movement transversely of the table and including columns, bars provided With knife-edges for engaging the blade, slidably mounted for movement in the columns, respectively, spring-means for pressing the bars toward the blade, brackets slidably mounted on the lower ends of the columns and provided with shoes for engaging the templets, and positioning the columns transversely of the table, means carried by the supports for setting the shoes for coacting with either of the templets, and gauges for measuring the movement of the bars in the columns by the blade while the shoes engage the templet.

13. Apparatus for measuring propeller blades comprising, a table, means for supporting a blade from its shank to extend longitudinally over the table, templets stationarily secured on the table, one above the other, one of the templets conforming to the leading and trailing edges of the blade and the other conforming to its thickness, a carriage movable over the table to diierent longitudinal blade stations, supports mounted on the carriage for rectilinear sliding movement transversely of the table and including columns, bars provided with knife-edges for engaging the blade, slidably mounted for movement in the columns, respectively, brackets slidably mounted on the lower ends of the columns, shoes on the brackets for engaging the templets and positioning the columns transversely of the table, means carried by the supports for setting the shoes for coacting with either of the templets, and means for measuring the movement of the elements in the columns by the blade while the shoes are engaged with the templets.

14. Apparatus for measuring propeller blades comprising, a table, means for supporting a blade from its shank to extend longitudinally over the table, a templet stationarily secured on the table, a carriage movable over the table to different longitudinal blade stations, and provided with rollers for engaging the top and sides of the table,

and with a pair of guide-rods extending across the table, supports slidably mounted for rectilinear sliding movement on said rods, columns mounted in said supports, bars provided with knife-edges for engaging the blade, slidably mounted for movement in the columns, means on the columns for engaging the templets, and positioning the columns transversely of the table, and means for measuring the movement of the bars relatively to the columns While the shoes are engaged with the templets.

15. Apparatus for measuring propeller blades comprising, a table, means for supporting a blade from its shank to extend longitudinally over the table, a templet stationarily secured on the table, a carriage movable over the table to different longitudinal blade stations, comprising a frame provided with rollers engaging the top and sides of the table and a pair of guide-rods over the frame, blocks mounted on the guide-rods, co1- umns mounted on, movable with, and extending vertically through said blocks, bars provided with knife-edges for engaging the blade, slidably mounted for movement in the columns by the 14 templet, shoes on the lower ends of the columns for engaging the templet, and positioning the columns transversely of the table. and means for measuring the movement of the bars relatively to the columns by the blade While the shoes are engaged with the templet.

DWILLARD J. DAVIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,581,566 Dunbar Apr. 20, 1926 1,652,435 Goodrich Dec. 13, 1929 2,238,782 Roche Apr. 15, 1941 2,433,421 Bowness 1 Dec. 30, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 128,619 England July 3, 1919 661,230 Germany June 14, 1938 

